GLAAD is elevating LGBTQ voices and issues at the Democratic National Convention (DNC). LGBTQ voters made the deciding difference in the 2020 election and are poised to do so again in 2024.
Out LGBTQ elected officials were among the speakers on the first night of the convention, including Rep. Robert Garcia, and the first Black lesbian U.S. Senator, Laphonza Butler, both from California, Vice President Harris’ home state.
The Harris campaign ad set to Beyonce’s “Freedom” rolled out on the main stage featuring visuals of American diversity, including Pride flags and LGBTQ people accompanying the line “Freedom, nobody loves it more. And we fight for it.”
GLAAD has documented Harris’ decades-long LGBTQ record in elected office, defending marriage equality, banning the gay-trans panic defense, and connecting reproductive freedoms to LGBTQ equality.
Gov. Tim Walz, Vice President Harris’ running mate, was in the convention center with his family. Walz’s record in Minnesota includes signing new laws to protect access to transgender health care, secure access to abortion, prohibit bans on books, and a ban on so-called conversion therapy. In 1999, Walz was a high school social studies teacher and coach, and became the faculty adviser for the school’s first Gay Straight Alliance.
At the rally in Philadelphia introducing Walz as her running mate two weeks ago, Harris said, “At a time when acceptance was difficult to find for LGBTQ students, Tim knew the signal that it would send to have a football coach get involved. So he signed up to be the group’s faculty advisor, and as students said, he made the school a safe place for everybody.”
President Joe Biden addressed the delegates in Chicago, including “the freedom to love who you love” among the freedoms at stake and worth fighting for in this year’s election. GLAAD has documented nearly 350 moves by the Biden-Harris administration to include, protect and defend LGBTQ Americans.
GLAAD research released last week shows when news stories accurately include LGBTQ people, acceptance and safety expands.
Media covering the convention and campaign must include LGBTQ voices in the national conversation. Research, data, and best practices for political reporters here.